mt hood 50 from the aid station

Didn't have much time to bring out the camera at the Mt Hood 50 the other day. Just a couple of shots I enjoyed. The meadow was breathtaking in the early morning fog.

Working that aid station was one of the most rewarding things I have done in a long time. If you want to feel helpful, volunteer at an ultra!

The early start

The meadow at the ranger station

Buddies. Jason just realized he brought two right shoes.

Waiting.

boulder ridge to huckleberry mountain

While I was out galivanting on the Metolius last week, Julie was exploring a new trail on Mt Hood. The Boulder Ridge trail takes off from the Wildwood Recreation area and climbs 3,300 feet to reach the Plaza Trail, which meanders along a ridge and affords stunning views of Mt Hood and Mt Adams, and on super clear days, Mt Jefferson and Mt St Helens too. She had sent me photos, and me, in my overly eager way, asked her if we could run it again so I could see it. She patiently agreed to take me, even though her big race is just over a week away. If that's not a good running buddy, I don't know what is.

Now it has been hotter than Hades around here lately, with blazing blue skies and wonderfully clear weather. Until this morning. A nice marine layer of clouds, while wonderfully cool, also cut off our early views. I kept my fingers crossed that we'd get to see something after climbing up so far.

I do love a good cloud forest.

My Cathedral
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Like two cathedral towers these stately pines

  Uplift their fretted summits tipped with cones;

  The arch beneath them is not built with stones,

  Not Art but Nature traced these lovely lines,

And carved this graceful arabesque of vines;

  No organ but the wind here sighs and moans,

  No sepulchre conceals a martyr's bones.

  No marble bishop on his tomb reclines.

Enter! the pavement, carpeted with leaves,

  Gives back a softened echo to thy tread!

  Listen! the choir is singing; all the birds,

In leafy galleries beneath the eaves,

  Are singing! listen, ere the sound be fled,

  And learn there may be worship with out words. 

This poem always comes to mind when the trees are dark and hushed as they were today, and there is nothing to hear but the birds and the wind.

A modest cairn

You don't hit the wild rhododendrons until you're up around 2,500 feet

As we reached the top, the skies began to clear.

Once we reached the top, Mt Hood decided to be a bit of a tease. We lingered as the clouds floated by, giving us a tantalizing hint of what the view would be.

C'mon baby.

Finally, the clouds parted and we got a great view of Mt Hood.

Mt Adams even appeared for a few minutes.

A glimpse of the valley below and Mt Hood above...not visible on the way up.

More about the trail: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Boulder_Ridge_to_Huckleberry_Mountain_Hike

metolius river trail

The Metolius River is one of Central Oregon's gems - a fly fisherman's paradise and a trail runner's dream. Undulating trails of wide singletrack follow the wild and beautiful river for miles and miles. Running this trail has been on my list for several years, and I finally finagled my chance to run a great section of it.

I took off from the Lower Creek Campground, where I was staying with the family. From there, it is a 2.5 mile section to Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery, and then another 5.5 on to Candle Creek Campground. All told, the out and back trip was about 14 miles. My running was less than stellar, but since I have no goals and no aspirations at the moment, I didn't worry too much about it.

Fresh water springs flow right out of the hillside.

A lovely spot on the trail.

Without Julie's backside to photograph, I had to take a picture of myself.

The wildflowers were amazing.

Easy little bridges to cross.

Plenty of wildlife to see. Osprey, geese, squirrels, butterflies, lizards, chipmunks...

Part of the preserve along the river.

So many kinds of butterflies along the trail. Like running through the butterfly habitat at the zoo.

The amazing blue water at the fish hatchery.

Such an amazing trail and run along the river. Even with the heat (it was nearly 90º,  and I ran out of water) I felt like a kid in a candy store. We saw some folks running what looked to be a trial race the next day; if this is the case and there is a race through the Metolius River area, I just might have to sign up.

mi hermosa mazatlan

I have been so very lucky to have been able to travel to Mazatlan. I was in love from the moment I started to discover its secrets - life teeming inside closed courtyards, the warmth of its summer sands, stark contrasts of its riches and its crushing poverty, a rich cultural history one cannot escape.

I did not come close to capturing all that I wished, but here are a few shots to illustrate the beauty of the place. And yes, I did run in the crushing heat and suffocating humidity...but mostly I soaked it all in.

Mazatlan from the top of the faro.

Street vendor selling jicama, cucumber and mango. He is 90.

The faro from a distance. Second highest natural lighthouse in the world.

Mazatlan is a street art lover's dream.

Olas Altas in the distance. Having a little fun with saturation levels.

Another view of Olas Altas and the edge of El Centro.

Beautiful beaches.

Valentino's. A Mazatlan landmark.

Can't wait to return. Hasta pronto, Mazatlan!